Geranium plant named &#34;Patriot Rose Pink&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Patriot Rose Pink’ is a new variety of  geranium  that exhibits free flowering, excellent outdoor performance, and vibrant hot pink flowers with white eyes atop of mounding medium green foliage.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Pelargonium×hortorum

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Patriot Rose Pink’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium×hortorum known by the varietal name ‘Patriot Rose Pink’. The new variety was discovered in Lompoc, Calif. The new variety is a result of cross breeding Pink Seedling #2491 (female parent) (unpatented) and ‘Valentine’ (male parent) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,587). The purpose of the breeding program was to introduce a new zonal geranium. The new variety is similar in plant type and flower color to its female parent, but is more free flowering. The new variety is similar in earliness to its male parent, but has more of a rose pink petal color. ‘Patriot Rose Pink’ is similar in flower size and color to ‘Rocky Mountain Deep Rose’, but has a more compact habit. The excellent outdoor performance and free flowering nature of ‘Patriot Rose Pink’ distinguishes the new variety from other varieties known to the breeder. The new variety was first asexually reproduced by cuttings in Connellsville, Pa. The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.

The new variety was grown in a glass greenhouse in a 4″ pot in Connellsville, Pa. using full light, 16° C. night temperature, 20° C. day temperature, and grown in a soilless media with constant fertilizer at 200-250 ppm nitrogen and potassium. The new variety exhibits developed roots at 21 days at an average temperature of 23° C. and has a response time of six to seven weeks from a rooted cutting to flowering in a 10 cm. container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics were collected by asexual reproductions carried out in Connellsville, Pa. The color readings were taken indoors under 200-220 foot candles of cool white fluorescent light. The new variety was eight weeks from a rooted cutting when described. Color references are primarily to the 1966 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

-   Plant: -   Market class: Zonal. -   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 7-10 days at about 23° C. -   Time to develop roots: Approximately 21 days at about 23° C. -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:     About 6-7 weeks in a 10 cm. container. -   Rooting habit: Good, normal. -   Form: Round-mounded. -   Height from media surface to top of foliage: 13.0-17.0 cm. -   Height from media surface to top of flowers: 28.0-29.5 cm. -   Plant diameter: 25.5-29.0 cm. -   Vigor: 3 on a scale of 5. -   Strength: No artificial support is needed. -   Branching habit: Free branching. -   Stem:     -   -   Main stem length.—11.5-14.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.75-1.0 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Texture.—Leathery texture.         -   Pubescence.—Present.         -   Internode length.—1.8-3.7 cm. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—Primary: 4.0-8.2 cm. Secondary: Plant is too young             to measure.         -   Diameter.—Primary: 0.7-0.9 cm. Secondary: Plant is too young             to measure. Internode length: 1.6-2.2 cm. Texture: Leathery.             Pubescence: Present. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Stipules.—Size: 1.0 cm. high by 0.7 cm. wide. Color:             Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Zone.—None present.         -   Size of leaf.—Length: 8.0-10.5 cm. Width: 5.5-8.1 cm.         -   Shape of leaf (generally).—Reniform with a stalked base.         -   Shape of apex.—Rounded in accordance with reniform leaf             shape.         -   Shape of base.—Cordate.         -   Texture.—Velvety.         -   Aspect.—Leaves have a very slight slope increasing from             point of connection toward the margin.         -   Margin type.—Crenate.         -   Pubescence.—Upper surface: Moderate. Lower surface:             Moderate.         -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Green Group 137A. Lower             surface: Green Group 137C. Mature leaves: Upper surface:             Green Group 137A. Lower surface: Green Group 137C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 6.4-13.6 cm. Diameter: 0.25-0.35 cm. Color:             Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Veins.—Venation type: Palmate. Color: Upper surface: Green             Group 137C. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group 144A. -   Inflorescence: -   Bud:     -   -   Stage of development when bud characteristics             determined.—Bud shows color at side but sepals are not             parting at the tips.         -   Shape of cluster.—Elliptical.         -   Diameter of cluster.—3.0-3.3 cm.         -   Number of buds per cluster.—23-26.         -   Shape of individual bud.—Ellipse.         -   Length of individual bud.—0.7-0.9 cm.         -   Width of individual bud.—0.5-0.7 cm. -   Natural flowering season at specified location(s): Year round     horticultural greenhouse crop. -   Blooming habit: Continuous and free flowering. -   Umbel diameter: 7.0-8.4 cm. -   Umbel depth: 5.0-5.5 cm. -   Borne: Umbel, flowers on pedicel, pedicel on peduncle. -   Inflorescence position: Above foliage. -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch: 1-2. -   Lastingness of an individual flower: 10-14 days. -   Florets:     -   -   Form.—Flat and slightly cupped. As flowers mature, the             florets gradually become more open/flat.         -   Number per umbel.—15-24.         -   Diameter.—3.5-4.8 cm.         -   Depth.—1.7-2.5 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Color.—The top two petals of the floret have a white eye             whereas the bottom petals do not. Upper surface: The top two             or three petals are Red-Purple Group 67B until the bottom             third where it fades to White Group 155D. The venation is             Red-Purple Group 64B. The point of connection then             immediately fades to White Group 155D. The entire bottom             petals are Red-Purple Group 67B except for the bottom ¼ of             the petal, which slowly fades to White Group 155D. The             venation is Red-Purple Group 74B. Lower surface: All petals             have a Red-Purple Group 67C margin that fades to Red-Purple             Group 73C and finally to White Group 155D as it approaches             the base of the petal. The venation is Red-Purple Group 67B             with the top two or three petals having heavier venation             than the bottom.         -   Shape.—Inverted teardrop.         -   Length.—2.4-2.8 cm.         -   Width.—1.9-2.4 cm.         -   Apex shape.—Smooth and rounded.         -   Base shape.—Tapered to a point.         -   Margin.—Entire; smooth.         -   Number per floret.—6-10.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Tonality from a distance.—Vibrant hot pink flowers with             white eyes atop of mounding medium green foliage. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Quantity.—0-2 per floret.         -   Shape.—Splits in a two-pronged unit or are tubular.         -   Color (upper and lower surface).—The upper surface of the             petaloids are Red-Purple 67C and fade to White Group 155D at             the base. On the lower surface, the petaloids are Red-Purple             Group 68B and fade to White Group 155D at the base.         -   Length.—0.7-1.5 cm.         -   Width.—0.3-1.0 cm. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—2.2-2.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.13-0.15 cm.         -   Color.—Greyed-Purple Group 185A where the pedicel connects             to the floret and fades to Yellow-Green Group 144A as the             pedicel approaches the point where it connects to the             peduncle. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—14.6-21.9 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.35-0.55 cm.         -   Texture.—A slightly rough leather texture with a slight to             moderate amount of pubescence.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144A. -   Sepal:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Pubescence.—Moderate.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Width.—0.25-0.45 cm.         -   Length.—0.9-1.1 cm. -   Fragrance: No unusual fragrance. -   Disease resistance: None observed. -   Temperature tolerance: None observed. -   Drought tolerance: None observed. -   Reproductive organs: -   Stamens:     -   -   Number (per flower).—8-11.         -   Filament.—Length: 0.5-0.7 cm. Color: White Group 155D with             the tip being Red-Purple Group 67B.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Oval-like with a slight curve. Length:             0.15-0.8 cm. Color: Greyed-Purple Group 184C.         -   Pollen.—Color: Greyed-Orange Group 169A. Amount: Plentiful. -   Pistils:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—0.7 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 0.2 cm. Color: Red Group 53B.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Style splits and radiates into 5 parts.             Color: Red Group 53B. Size: 0.15 cm. high.         -   Ovaries.—Position: Superior. Pubescence: Present. Length:             0.35 cm. Width: 0.17-0.2 cm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. 

1. A new and distinct variety of geranium named ‘Patriot Rose Pink’ as described and illustrated. 